I was upset to see two great trees taken down a few weeks ago on the corner lot of Newcastle and Bayard in Rehoboth. Taking my son on a nap-time walk around town I would always admire how these two trees were so straight, tall, and different from many of the other trees in Rehoboth. I believe they were a type of redwood with gorgeous, fern-like foliage which was shed come winter. When the house located on the lot was being demolished these two trees were cordoned off and I thought were being saved. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case.
In saying all of that, I was glad to see that the Rehoboth planners are beginning the process to revise and simplify the city’s tree ordinance. As the current ordinance suggests, trees are an integral part of what makes Rehoboth such an attractive place to live, work and vacation. It sets the town apart from other resort areas and undoubtedly has helped attract the great shops, restaurants, and activities we all love so much. They provide shade and make walking our sidewalks more bearable on those scorching hot summer days (not to mention helping with those high A/C costs).
A simplified and more meaningful tree ordinance along with proposed setback changes will hopefully allow Rehoboth to continue to be one of the best beach resorts in the country. In the case of the Newcastle and Bayard lot, I do hope that the owners are allowed to take Commissioner Brian Patterson’s ideas and focus on the types of trees to be planted rather than just making up numbers.
Quality over quantity I suppose!
Ian Curry
Rehoboth Beach
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